Auxiliary drive for hot metal mixers



Dec. 27, 1932. F. E. KLING 1,892,309

AUXILIARY.DRIVE FOR HOT METAL MIXERS Filed Aug. 12, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l F. E. KLING AUXILIARY DRIVE FOR HOT METAL MIXERS Dec. 27, 1932.

Filed Aug. 12. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet lnvenfar F650 5. KL/NG Patentecl Dec. 27, 1932 PATENT OFFICE FRED E. KLING, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO AUXILIARY DRIVE FOR HOT METAL MIXERS Application filed August 12, 1931. Serial No. 556,684.

This invention relates to an auxiliary drive for hot metal mixers, an object being to provide a positive means for operating such mixers should their normal operating means fail.

Other objects may later become apparent.

Hot metal mixers are generally operated by a pair of electric motors, the extra motor serving as a safeguard against total motor failure. This is an effective precaution unless the electric current source itself should fail, in which event it is totally ineffective. lit is to be understood that if, after the mixer has been rotated so that the metal is being poured, the source of electricity should fail,

great damage will resultthrough inability to stop the flow of metal.

This invention is characterized by the use of a fluid pressure motor which is in valved connection with a fluid tank in which pres- 29 sure is constantly maintained. This motor is rockably mounted and supplied with normally disengaged gearing for connecting it to the operating shaft of the mixer, a cylinder and piston being arranged to rock the motor into gear engaging position before any air reaches the motor.

In the drawings:

Figure -1 shows one form of this invention as it appears in use.

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of the invention as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end partially cross-sectional View of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional elevation through the fluid pressure cylinder shown at the extreme right hand of Figure 4, the section being taken at right angles to the section of Figure 4.

Having reference to these drawings, there is shown an end of a hot metal mixer 2 having a rotatable operating shaft 3 which is normally operated by a pair of electric motors which are not both shown, a gear 4 being 45 fixed to the end of the shaft 3. A compressed air motor 5 is mounted near the end of the shaft 3 on an upstanding arm 6 and has a pinion 7 fixed as its driving shaft. The arm 6 has its lower end supported by a pivot 8, 5 which positions the motor 5 so that the gears 4 and 7 are in alinement and may be engaged and disengaged by rocking motion of the motor. The motor, being fixed to one side of the arm 6, is in an unbalanced condition, so that normally the gears are disengaged. 5

A. lever 9 extends out from the bottom end of the arm 6 at right angles, and a cylinder 10 is vertically arranged oi'er the free end of this lever and carries a piston 12 which is connected to this free end by a longitudinally ad- 09 justable connecting rod 13. The bottom of the free end of the lever 9 butts against the adjustable stop 14 which limits its downward motion and prevents the gears 4 and 7 from engaging too tightly.

The cylinder 10 has an inlet 15, which is connected through a compressed air line 16 and a three-way valve 17 to a compressed air tank 18, this tank being supplied with air through an inlet check valve 19 so that pressure will be maintained therein even if the compressed air source fails. The cylinder 10 also has an outlet 20 which is arranged in the path of the piston 12 for closure thereby until the lever 9 has been forced completely down. A casing 21 may be used to mount the various parts, as illustrated in the drawings.

In operation the hot metal mixer is, of course, to be normally operated by its customary electric motors, the only time this inven- 1 tion is used being when the electricity source fails and leaves the mixer pouring metal with no means of bringing it to an upright position. Should this occur, the valve 17 is operated to admit air from the tank into the cylinder 10.

When the gears 4 and 7 are disengaged the piston 12 is at the end of the cylinder 10 so as to close the port opening 20. \Vhen air is admitted to the cylinder 10 the piston 12, connecting rod 13 and lever 9 are forced down, swinging the arm 6 and motor 5 towards the shaft 3 and throwing the gears 4 and 7 into engagement. After commencement of the swinging movement of the arm 6 and motor 5 $3 the pinion 7 slowly starts to rotate and upon further swinging movement of the arm and motor the pinion 7 and gear 4 are thrown into engagement. When these gears are completely engaged the outlet 20 will be entirely l opened so that the airmay pass therethrough and enter the motor 5. The connecting rod 13 may have its length adjusted to insure accurate operation of the cylinder and piston in the manner just described.

-This invention thus provides an efliective safeguard for hot metal mixers which prevents a spill occurring should the source of electricity be interrupted, and even should the compressed air fail the tank 18 will contain suflicient air to operate the motor 5 so that the mixer may be rotated at least far enough to stop the metal from pouring out.

specific form of this invention has been illustrated and described in accordance with the patent statutes and not to limit the scope ofthe invention to this particular form, except as will be defined by the appended claims.

1. In combination with a hot metal-mixer having a rotatable operating shaft, a fluid pressure motor, a fluid pressure transmission line for said motor and means for connecting said motor to said operating shaft by fluid pressure transmitted through said line.

2. In combination with a hot metal mixer having arotatable operating shaft, a fluid pressure motor, gears on said shaft and said motor, means for rockably positioning said motor so that said gears are alined for en gagement and disengagement by rocking motion ofthe motor, and fluid pressure operated means for rocking said motor.

3. In combination with a hot metal mixer having a rotatable operating shaft, a fluid pressure motor, gears on said shaft and said motor, means for rockably positioning said motor so that said gears are alined for engagement and disengagement by rocking motion of the motor, a fluid pressure transmission line for said motor and fluid pressure operated means interposed in said transmission line for rocking said motor.

4. In combination with a hot metal mixer having a rotatable operating shaft, a fluid pressure motor, gears on said shaft and said motor, means for rockably positioning said motor so that said gears are alined for engagement and disengagement by rocking motion of the motor, a cylinder and piston arranged for rocking said motor the cylinder having an inlet and an outlet thelatter being positioned so as to be normally closed by the piston of said cylinder until said piston is operated to rock said motor to gear engaging position, and a fluid pressure transmission line connected to the inlet of said cylinder and between the outlet thereof and said motor.

5. In combination with a hot metal mixer having a rotatable operating shaft, a fluid pressure motor, gears on said shaft and said motor, an upstanding arm carrying said motor and having its lower end pivotally positioned to aline said gears for engagement and disengagement by rocking motion of the motor, a lever for rocking said arm and motor, a cylinder and piston for operating said lever to rock said arm the cylinder having an inlet and an outlet the latter being positioned for closure by the piston until the lever has rocked the arm and said motor carried thereby into gear engaging position, and a fluid pressure transmission line connected with the inlet of said cylinder and between the outlet thereof and said motor.

6. In combination with a hot metal mixer having a rotatable operating shaft, afluid pressure motor, gears on said shaft and'said motor, an upstanding arm carrying said motor on one side and having its lower end pivotally positioned to aline said gears for engagement and.disengagement by rocking motion of the motor, a lever having one end connected to said arm at the lower end thereof, a cylinder right angularly arranged at the free end of said lever, a piston having longitudinally adjustable means connecting the same to the free end of said lever and carried in said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet for said cylinder the outlet being arranged in the path of said pistons motion, means for adjustably limiting the downward motion of the free end of said lever and a fluid transmission line connected to the inlet of said cylinder and between the outlet thereof and said fluid pressure motor.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand; I

FRED E. KLING. 

